Mr Hyde Quotes Analysis

• "with ape-like fury"

  The use of the simile describes Hyde as an animal not a human. This shows that Hyde doesn't care about his actions and has no control over his fiery, animalistic behavior. It links to the hypothesis that Humans evolved from apes.
• "pure evil"

  Unlike most, the adjective 'pure' portrays Hyde as only evil. He has no good traits which makes him feared
• "My devil had been long caged he came out roaring"

  The noun 'caged' shows that the Victorian era was a restriction and forced people to suppress their true identity in a caged manner to be deemed respectable. It also suggests the theme of duality as it represents Jekyll's idea that all humanity has two sides. Furthermore, the noun 'devil' compares Hyde to Satan emphasizing his evil nature. The verb "roaring" continues to depict Hyde as an animal.
• "...hissing intake of breath"

  The verb 'hissing' uses religious references and animal imagery comparing Hyde to the snake in the Garden of Eden. The snake in that story is evil and so is Hyde.
• "stood huddled together like a flock of sheep"

  The simile shows the effect Hyde has on people. His features and behavior causes fear in others. He also causes he Sawbones to turn "white with the desire to kill him"
• "particularly wicked-looking"

  The maid's description of Hyde. links to the idea of physiognomy as Victorian readers thought you could tell a person's personality from their facial features.
• "something troglodytic"


  Noun 'troglodytic' demonstrates that Hyde is primitive and uncivilised which could be referring to the context of Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Stevenson was influenced by it and played on the fears of the Victorian society; the fear of atavism
• "trampled calmly"


  'trampled' and 'calmly' are juxtaposed as Hyde tramples violently, but calmly to perhaps signify he feels no remorse
• "the bones were audibly shattered and the body jumped"

  Hyde is portrayed as vicious and the fact that the bones were 'audibly shattered' and the body 'jumped' gives a horrifying visual to the readers yet gives them an insight as to the scale of damage that Hyde can cause.
• "he broke out in a great flame of anger"

  This metaphor describes Hyde's fiery when he killed Sir Danvers Carew. 'Flame' connotes the colour red which symbolises danger, the fact that he is unable to control his outbursts indicates his destructive behaviour. Flames are quick and spread in the same way that Hyde's destructive actions have spread across London
• "his family is no where to be traced"

  He is presented as an enigmatic character